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Tuesday, February 22, 2005

How to Get an Interview at The Drawing Center

Last month I let you know how you can have your work considered for inclusion in the Whitney Biennial - at the end of this post. Now I will show you how to cheat your way into an appointment to show your work to a curator at The Drawing Center, for possible inclusion in a Selections Exhibition, even if your submitted slides have been rejected.

The Drawing Center has two excellent programs, the Viewing Programand the Slide Registry. Submitted materials are reviewed by the curatorial staff for possible inclusion in the SlideRegistry and for a portfolio review at The Drawing Center. At the portfolio review, a staff curator meets with each artist to offer comments and advice.

I've had two private meetings with Drawing Center curators, the first I got legitimately and was a complete waste of time which I will relate later. The second time I cheated my way into an appointment, and was fortunate to meet with someone who really took the time to study my work and let me know what he thought (he didn't like it, but he was so good it didn't matter).

If you get a legit invitation to make an appointment to bring your stuff in for review you will be sent a letter requesting you call the Drawing Center and schedule the appointment. Nobody will doublecheck this. So all you have to do is call and say "I'm calling to make an appointment to show my stuff for the Viewing Program. I got a letter". It's that easy. Actually, I didn't call, I just happened to be at the Drawing Center when I got the idea and went up to the girl at the reception desk. She made an appointment for me the next day!

11 comments:

The correspondence I was referring to was not from the Drawing Center. They have been kind to me over the years. But I am seeking revenge upon the fuddy duddy oldster giving "feedback" through their viewing program. Can they hire a new person? At least someone living in this decade? (I refer to his opinions, not his age, I swear!)

That guy is a jerk. I had an experience with him a few years ago. He criticized my work using criteria that I felt had nothing to do with why I made my work. He doesn't listen well. He just throws around his load. I have heard many many horror stories about how he has disrespected people. Martin, I totally respect you for taking the criticism well. I haven't gone back there since my first interview. Is there someone else who does it too? Can you request someone in particular, I wonder?

i just found this post. (late on the chain, i know) but i am wondering if you guys are talking about the same guy i had my viewing program meeting with at the drawing center. he was pretty brutal and used the word "cute" which kills me every time. i feel like i have hit a dead end there.